World AIDS Day

What are you and your group doing for World AIDS Day? Let us know at blog@gaygames.org.

unaids.org

Eurogames extends deadline for Outreach applications to 31 December

Eurogames Budapest has extended its Outreach registration deadline

IMPORTANT! We have extended the outreach registration deadline to 30 December!

Info at eurogamesbudapest.hu

GALA Choruses 2012 sneak preview: Portland and Kansas City

Here's a video in a series that looks ahead to events at the upcoming 2012 GALA Choruses annual event in Denver.

Here's what the choruses from Kansas City and Portland are planning.

Info HERE.

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En français / 2 December 2011 / Programme final du colloque FSGL à Paris

Voici le programme final du colloque FSGL. Depuis la publication du programme préliminaire, on a ajouté les intervenants aux tables rondes, ainsi que les dignitaires présents, donc le directeur général de l'INSEP et l'adjont aux sports du maire de Paris.

Aux tables rondes, animées par des journalistes comme Bénédicte Matthieu, Myrtille Rambion et Alex Taylor, on trouvera notamment quelques sportifs de haut niveau, comme les volleyeuses Maëlezig Bigi et Pat Ngombi et le pentathlonien Florian Bou.

La FGG sera représentée par Emy Ritt, co-présidente de la Fédération.

Il est encore possible de s'inscrire gratuitement sur le site fsgl.org.

colloquefsgl

2 December 2011 / Final program of FSGL conference online

Here's the final program for the FSGL conference that opens Friday. Since the initial version, the participants on the panel discussions have been added, as well as the confirmation of some dignitaries including the director of the French national sports institute and the deputy mayor of Paris in charge of sport.

At the panels, moderated by journalist such as Bénédicte Matthieu, Myrtille Rambion and Alex Taylor, we'll have several elite athletes including the volleyball players Maëlezig Bigi and Pat Ngombi and pentathlete Florian Bou.

The FGG will be represented by Emy Ritt, co-president of the Federation.

It's still possible to register at no cost at fsgl.org.

colloquefsgl

Keph Senett looks at the problem of women's participation in LGBT sport events

Keph Senett has published a thought-provoking look at the struggles for women's inclusion in LGBT sport, with the example of football at the Vancouver Outgames. The situation was extreme there, but the challenges are faced by all sports events. And the response has to be at a minimum, recognition that there's a problem.

THE GOALKEEPER rocked on his heels, took two half-skips forward and drove 74 minutes of sweaty frustration into the sweet spot. The ball sailed high over the center line. On the pitch below, a cluster of players jockeyed, looking for the angle that might change the game.

I was at this past summer’s International Gay and Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA) North America Cup, a continental soccer tournament that was part of the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association (GLISA) Outgames. Matches were being decided at Vancouver’s Thunderbird Park, an athletic complex near the University of British Columbia, and though it was only 11:00 a.m., the sidelines were littered with cast-off cleats and jerseys.

Players were hurting. The Cup is an amateur event — there are no tryouts to compete — yet there was an unsettling uniformity to the players. With a single exception, they were all male.

Just weeks before the Cup kick-off, organizers had cancelled the women’s division. Though the remaining competitions were technically open to players of all genders, the web site showed “Men’s Division I and II”.

“What’s the skinny on women’s participation this year?” I asked, as I joined a group of spectators at the goal-side fence.

Keep reading HERE.

LGBTQ Youth Summit: Andrew Langenfeld's video blog, number 1

The World LGBTQ Youth Leaders Summit will be starting soon in Tel Aviv.

Andrew Langenfeld, an elite collegiate swimmer from the USA will be part of the education panel at the summit. Andrew is a founder of Our Group, a support group for out LGBT student athletes.

We're delighted that Andrew will be representing the Federation of Gay Games and LGBT sport at this event, and are pleased to share his video blog entries.

Watch his first entry below!

Website: lgbtqsummit.org

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MLSsoccer.com interview with recently out footballer David Testo

From the website of Major League Soccer (h/t WideRights):

David Testo made headlines earlier this month when he came out publicly as gay, the first North American professional soccer player to do so openly. A onetime team MVP for the Montreal Impact, Testo was released by the new MLS club recently and is dealing with his new public identity and the ramifications it might have on his professional career.

He spoke with MLSsoccer.com's Nick Firchau about his decision, his days with the Columbus Crew and why he turned down a chance to return to Major League Soccer before he came out.

MLSsoccer.com: More than a week after your announcement, have you been surprised by the public reaction? It doesn’t seem like there’s been a great deal of controversy or backlash about your coming out.

Testo: When I did the interview [on CBC], I didn’t think it would have the echo that it’s had. I’ve been living in Montreal for the past five years, and I live in kind of a bubble in these terms, so when the interview had the ripple effect that it did, I was kind of in shock. But then I started getting nothing but positive feedback and congratulations, and lots and love and support. It’s been pretty awesome to see that people are so supporting, accepting and moving in the right direction.

When I gave the interview, I didn’t tell anyone. So when all of this happened, I started getting calls from my mom asking me, "What the hell have you done?" because reporters were calling my house in Nashville. I couldn’t believe it had gotten there already. I didn’t even think twice to tell anyone or forewarn anyone.

Keep reading HERE.

IGBO 2012 and 2013

We're pleased to share the dates of the annual tournament of FGG member organization IGBO for 2012 and 2013, after a highly successful 2011 tournament in Toronto last spring.

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IGBO XXXII - Greater New York City Area
Wednesday, May 23 - Monday, May 28, 2012

The greater New York City / New Jersey area was selected to host IGBO 2012 annual.

The host committee and Northeast Region welcome you aboard the U.S.S. IGBO for a week of Fleet-sized fun!

www.igbo2012.org

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IGBO XXXIII - Tampa, FL
Wednesday, May 22 - Monday, May 27, 2013

Tampa was selected to host IGBO 2012 annual.

The host committee and Southern Region welcomes you for a week of Pirating fun! Tampa does Pirates well! So we’ve decided to share the bounty of our buccaneer experience with the participants of IGBO XXXIII. Please don’t be offended if you’re asked to Surrender the Booty - we promise that you’ll Find Your Treasure in Tampa!


www.igbo2013.org

Gay Games Ambassador Blake Skjellerup gains sponsor for Olympic bid

28 November 2011
Orcon to Sponsor NZ Olympic Speed-Skater

New Zealand short-track speed skater Blake Skjellerup has this month secured local internet company Orcon as a corporate sponsor of his campaign to compete at the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia in 2014.

The Christchurch-born Olympian competed for New Zealand in the 2010 winter games in Vancouver, and has been seeking financial sponsorship from corporate backers and individuals since then as he trains and competes in the annual speed skating world cup competition circuit.

“Speed skating is one of the most popular of the winter Olympic sports,” explains Skjellerup “but in terms of mainstream acknowledgment it remains relatively unknown. I’m very grateful for this new partnership with Orcon which will enable me to spend more time focusing on my performance and training, and less time worrying about how to find the money I need to make it to the next Olympics.”

Orcon Chief Executive Scott Bartlett agreed, “We see a huge amount of potential in Blake to compete at the highest level and are thrilled to be a part of his campaign. Blake may not be a household name yet, but we’re confident that given the support he needs, he soon will be.”

“Our goal at Orcon is to be the best in terms of speed, precision and reliability, and Blake embodies all of those qualities. He has the spirit of a true kiwi battler taking on the world.”

This year has been a landmark one for 26-year-old Skjellerup who spent his off-season engaged in a nation-wide speaking tour of secondary schools. He was also the face of the Pink Shirt Day anti-bullying campaign, after which he was invited to meet with Prime Minister John Key to discuss bullying in New Zealand schools.

In June the Gay Auckland Business Association announced the establishment of a bank account enabling individuals to donate to Skjellerup’s Olympic campaign through his website (www.blakeskjellerup.com).

“This Orcon sponsorship means a great deal to my career as an athlete. These funds, along with those contributed through the GABA account, are a huge help. In order to make it to Sochi I will still need to raise more funds, but this is certainly a great start.”

Skjellerup’s 2011-12 season started strongly winning all three distances to take out the national title at the New Zealand Speed-Skating Championships held in Dunedin in August. He will next compete in the Skating Union World Cup held in Nagoya, Japan on December 2-4.

HIVsport.org gains support of UK League Managers Association

A press release from UK-based organization HIVsport.org:

League Managers Association joins forces with HIVsport to mark World AIDS Day 2011

To mark the occasion of World AIDS Day, the League Managers Association is once again supporting the annual HIVsport World AIDS Day campaign to raise awareness of the global threat of HIV and AIDS.

To support the campaign the LMA will be sending the HIVsport red ribbon ‘Badge of Hope’ to all 92 league managers and will asking them to wear the badge over the World AIDS Day period to show their support for the 33 million people living with HIV and AIDS across the world.

Andy Harvey, Chair of HIVsport said, ‘For the past five years the football managers and their association have shown magnificent support in helping to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS. Every manager who chooses to wear the badge does so voluntarily and this is an incredibly powerful message of hope they give to everyone around the world who is affected by HIV and AIDS.’

Richard Bevan, Chief Executive of the LMA, says. ‘We are delighted once again to support this important campaign and to show that the football world can help raise awareness of HIV and AIDS at this time of year’.

En català / Els nedadors de les Panteres Grogues es despullen per un calendari

Amb l'arribada del 2012 són molts els calendaris que proliferen per il·lustrar els mesos que venen. Enguany, per primer cop, la secció de natació del Club Esportiu LGTB Panteres Grogues ha elaborat el seu propi calendari.

Hi trobareu 24 nedadors amb poca roba disposats a animar-vos des de gener a desembre. No és el primer equip esportiu que ho fa, però segurament serà un dels que més us alegrarà la vista.

Les fotos, elaborades per l’estudi fotogràfic Shoot 115 (www.shoot115.com), es van fer durant el mes d’octubre a la piscina on entrenen habitualment, les platges de Barcelona, Sant Feliu de Guíxols i Cabrils.

El calendari està a la venda al preu de 10 € i es pot adquirir a les llibreries:

• Cómplices, C/ Cervantes 4, Barcelona
• Antinous, C/Josep Anselm Clavé 6, Barcelona.

També es pot demanar per correu electrònic a natacio@panteresgrogues.cat. S’enviarà a domicilis particulars previ pagament per transferència.

Gay Softball World Series settles lawsuit with bisexual players

Today as reported in the Bay Area Reporter, by Roger Brigham.

The North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) has settled the remaining parts of a lawsuit with the National Center for Lesbian Rights. The San Francisco softball team that was disqualified for players not being gay in the 2008 tournament in Seattle, WA was restored to their 2nd place title and will receive their award.

Earlier this year NAGAAA ammended their rules to include bisexuals and transgender athletes.

The full article can be read on the Bay Area Reporter web site and blog.

Click HERE for the article.

(Another) lesbian coach fired for her sexual orientation, (another) institution lies about it

From Pat Griffin's blog:

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Why We Need State and Federal Non-Discrimination Laws That Include Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Sorry for the clunky title, but I couldn’t figure out another way to get the point across in a snappy clever way in fewer words. Nikki Williams has been teaching geography for three years and was an assistant volleyball at a public charter school just outside Dallas, TX for three years. She was about to realize a lifelong dream of coaching basketball this season too. From all accounts she is a popular and successful teacher/coach supported by students and parents. She has received positive performance evaluations and a letter of commendation from the superintendent. It all sounds good so far.

[Read local coverage of the story HERE]

But just before basketball season started in October, Nikki was fired. Nikki filed a grievance with the school claiming that she was fired because she is a lesbian. Apparently school officials became aware of this when Nikki’s partner began attending volleyball games this fall.

Students and parents have rallied to support Nikki pressing school administrators to explain their decision. The parents and students are unconcerned about Nikki’s sexual orientation. They are upset that a popular and successful young teacher/coach is suddenly gone. A petition for her reinstatement has been signed by over 100 parents and 50 students. The total school enrollment is 300.

Keep reading HERE.

Meet Leslie Becker, the 1500th fan of our Facebook page!

New Yorker Leslie Becker is our 1500th fan on Facebook (facebook.com/federationofgaygames). We are delighted to share a brief profile of Leslie, a Gay Games veteran.

I'm a musician with the Lesbian and Gay Big Apple Corps, and as part of the Lesbian and Gay Band Association, and Gay Games in Cleveland will mark my fourth games as a member of Team Band -- New York, Chicago and Cologne being the first three. I was the co-coordinator of Team Band's involvement at Gay Games VIII in Cologne, and I will again be on the leadership team for Gay Games 9 in Cleveland when Team Band will bring together 250 musicians from around the world to perform not only in the Cultural Festival, but as a part of Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

The world is a better place thanks to Dr. Tom Waddell and the Gay Games and Cultural Festival. I took the flame and passed it on -- and I believe that those who come after me will do the same!

We'll be sending Leslie a copy of Take the Flame to thank her for her contributions to the Gay Games movement. You too can "like" our page. Just click HERE.

A message from Team Chicago on the death of Maggie Daley

The FGG joins member organization Team Chicago in their message on the death of Maggie Daley, wife of Mayor Richard M. Daley:


We wish the best and loving memories to Richard M. and family for their loss this week of First Lady Maggie Daley.

Their love for people, citizen and sports were instrumental in Chicago having secured the winning bid and successful and un-precedented execution of the 2006 Gay Games VIII "Where the World Meets" here in Chicago within 2 years time.

We are truly blessed to have their support of the LGBT community for so many years!

GALA 2012 Denver sneak preview video:

Here's a video in a series that looks ahead to events at the upcoming 2012 GALA Choruses annual event in Denver.

Here's what Men Alive, Orange County's men's chorus, is planning.

Info HERE.

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New Cleveland aquarium to feature walk-through shark tank

An update from the Cleveland Plain Dealer on the newest attraction in Cleveland:

New aquarium taking shape: Attraction at Powerhouse in Flats to feature walk-through shark tank

The finishing touches are weeks away, but the Greater Cleveland Aquarium appears on track to open Jan. 21.

Built into a portion of the old Powerhouse in the Flats, the 40-tank aquarium is the handiwork of New Zealand-based Marinescape, which has more than 20 other such attractions around the globe and bills itself as the pioneer in walk-through aquariums.

A signature feature of the Marinescape exhibitions will be present in Cleveland: a curving acrylic tunnel that snakes through the shark tank -- that is, with the tank next to and over spectators. It should afford them just about every sensation of a shark encounter except for the loss of limbs.

Visitors will also be able to walk around the outside of the 70-foot, 500,000-gallon tank. It will showcase at least 15 sharks of various species, some up to 7 feet long.

Keep reading HERE.

En français / 2 December 2011 / Nouvelle annonce du colloque FSGL

Après Métro, où plusieurs annonces sont apparues, c'est dans le carnet du Monde que la FSGL annonce son colloque sur sport et homophobie.

Inscription gratuites sur fsgl.org

Sports connection for UK LGBT History Project wiki

From QueerUK.net:

The LGBT History Project was launched yesterday at the prelaunch event for LGBT History Month at the Kia Oval Cricket Ground [where the 2012 theme, "sport", was presented]. The new wikimedia web site is devoted to British LGB & Trans history: www.LGBThistoryUK.org .

Using Wikipedia's own software, everyone is invited to log on and enter stories, memories and knowledge of British LGB&T life. Suggested topics include arts, sport, business, health, press, people and pubs and clubs. This new site has already attracted entries about crime, politics and legislation, as well as one contributor specialising in bisexual culture, and another in South London's gay groups. The site aims to records social memories of our day, the nations changing attitudes to same-same relationships and notable people in history that LGB and Trans people can draw upon as role models.

[...]

The site is looking for people from all over the country to record what they remember and know of their experience. Founder, Jonathan Harbourne said "it's great that attitudes towards homosexuality are becoming more acceptable in many places in Britain. In another 10 or 20 years, I don't want people to forget the struggle and the fight that won us our equalities and freedoms. But I don't want it to be all doom-and-gloom either – as a perceived minority we not only stood out against injustice, but often shone out, we often led the way in music and clubs, we celebrated our differences with the word 'Pride' becoming synonymous with being LGB&T, and we stuck together during the health crisis we faced raising millions of pounds. This makes our culture creative, generous and supportive. My aim is that this site becomes an history "time capsule", a resource to people and academics in years to come."

[...]

Jonathan has been the founder of several projects and groups, including The London Raider's softball club (the largest softball club in the world), London Gay Bikers, a 250-strong motorcycle club ("London Gay Bikers" on Facebook), and he now chairs the bid for London to host the Gay Games/OutGames in 2018.

Read in full HERE.

Outsports roundup

A look at some recent stories from that fount of LGBT sport news, Outsports:

A story from the Windy City Times about the marriage of out pro bowler Scott Norton.

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American Samoa’s Johnny ‘Jayieh’ Saelua is reportedly the first openly transgender player in World Cup football history.

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New York Post columnist Lenn Robbins has a great column slamming St. John’s University college basketball fans for their use of gay slurs during last weekend’s game against the University of Arizona.

Glenn Burke and the origin of the "high five"

A segment on the excellent Radiolab show led us to this story by Jon Mooallem on ESPN.com:

[...] Glenn Burke, a young outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the late 1970s whose astonishing physique and 17-inch biceps earned him the nickname King Kong.

For at least a generation before the Sleets story surfaced, the conventional wisdom had been that Burke invented the high five on Oct. 2, 1977, in front of 46,000 screaming fans at Dodger Stadium.

It was the last day of the regular season, and Dodgers leftfielder Dusty Baker had just gone deep off the Astros' J.R. Richard. It was Baker's 30th home run, making the Dodgers the first team in history to have four sluggers -- Baker, Ron Cey, Steve Garvey and Reggie Smith -- with at least 30 homers each. It was a wild, triumphant moment and a good omen as the Dodgers headed to the playoffs. Burke, waiting on deck, thrust his hand enthusiastically over his head to greet his friend at the plate. Baker, not knowing what to do, smacked it. "His hand was up in the air, and he was arching way back," says Baker, now 62 and managing the Reds. "So I reached up and hit his hand. It seemed like the thing to do."

Burke then stepped up and launched his first major league home run. And as he returned to the dugout, Baker high-fived him. From there, the story goes, the high five went ricocheting around the world. (According to Dodgers team historian Mark Langill, the game was not televised, and no footage survives.)

The high five was a natural outgrowth of Burke's personality. The Oakland native was an irrepressibly charismatic man who, even as a 24-year-old rookie that season, had become the soul of the Dodgers' clubhouse. He did Richard Pryor standup from memory and would stuff towels under his shirt and waddle bowlegged around the dugout, imitating Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda. "He was a joyous, gregarious person," sports agent Abdul-Jalil al-Hakim says of Burke, a friend since childhood. "He could high-five you without necessarily going through the motion with his hand."

History of the HIgh Five
Burke often high fived Dodgers teammate Dusty Baker.

What most people didn't know was that Burke was gay. Following his retirement in 1980, he became the first major leaguer to come out. Even though he tried to keep his sexuality a secret during his playing days, there had been rumors in the clubhouse. And as the 2010 television documentary Out: The Glenn Burke Story revealed, Dodgers executives scrambled to squash those rumors at all costs: In the off-season of 1977, team VP Al Campanis offered Burke $75,000 to get married. (The Dodgers executive later explained the offer not as a bribe but as a "helpful gesture" to pay for Burke's honeymoon.) According to a friend, Burke rejected the marriage deal with a mix of wit and rebelliousness. He told Campanis, "I guess you mean to a woman."


Keep reading HERE.

UK footballer Matt Broomfield on the fight against homophobia in football, and on the Justin Campaign

From BBC Sports, an essay by Matt Broomfield, who signed the Charter Against Homophobia in Sport on behalf of his team, the Wycombe Wanderers:


Every so often in your life as a professional footballer you are presented with a chance to help make a difference to people's lives. I was lucky enough to be given this opportunity this week.

I was invited to attend the pre-launch event for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans (LGBT) History Month 2012 at the Oval cricket ground.

The invitation came about because, as the Professional Footballers' Association representative for Wycombe Wanderers, I signed the Government Charter for Action on behalf of the club to rid sport of homophobic and transphobic abuse. We were the first professional football club to do so and since then I am glad to say many others have followed.

I honestly did not realise at the time how much it meant to so many people for us to sign the charter, or indeed for us to then attend the launch event. I was truly taken back by the reaction of everyone at the event to our attendance and continued support of the charter.

Racial discrimination is an issue that has made a lot of headlines recently, and rightly so, because it is something that has no place in our game. The Show Racism The Red Card and Kick It Out campaigns, amongst others, have helped but unfortunately recent examples have shown that we haven't yet completely rid our game of racism.

Homophobic discrimination is maybe something that hasn't been given as much publicity, but hopefully that will start to change. I was lucky enough to meet the founder of The Justin Campaign, Jason Hall, at the LGBT event.

The Justin Campaign was founded in May 2008 in memory of Justin Fashanu, the first openly gay footballer who committed suicide in 1998.

They work all year round but focus their efforts on a week of action around the week of 19 February. We will be taking part in the campaign and we hope other clubs will take part as well.

Life as a footballer is a continual rollercoaster. The honour of attending the LGBT event followed on from a long weekend after our defeat against Bournemouth. It was a result that left us second bottom in the league and it's something that is hard to deal with.

I have lost count of the times I have been told not to get too high or too low, but it doesn't get any easier to deal with defeat, even after 260-odd professional appearances.

I also find myself in a foul mood if training has gone badly, or if my team loses in a five-a-side. My dad will take the brunt of my frustration in a phone call on the way home, or my fiancee will know that it's going to be a long evening at home.

It's a short career and you have to make the best of every opportunity that you have. You might not get that opportunity again. I am desperate to play as many games as I can this year, and help our club stay in League One.

We as players understand that promotion and relegation not only affects our careers, but everyone connected with the club.

Chris Morgan at launch of UK LGBT History Month

Gay Games Ambassador Chris Morgan signs the UK Charter Against Homophobia in Sport on behalf of the Justin Campaign, at today's launch at the Oval in London of the UK LGBT History Month, which in 2012 will again focus on sport.

Billy Bean comments on new Major League Baseball contract's prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation

From the New York Daily News:

Billy Bean knows the fear, and the trauma, provoked by hiding his sexual orientation for the sake of his career. Through his own experience, and through conversations with front-office friends forced to keep their private lives secret, Bean understands why no active MLB player, manager or executive has identified himself as gay.

“I have spoken many times with people who work in Major League Baseball, and they are afraid to come out, because they don’t know how their owners and superiors would respond,” said Bean, who played for the Tigers, Dodgers and Padres from 1987-1995.

amazon.com	amazon.ca	amazon.co.uk	amazon.fr	amazon.de

In his 2003 memoir - “Going the Other Way” - Bean discussed his life as a major leaguer who hid his sexuality until after retirement. When he played, Bean was a not victim of overt discrimination because of one unfortunate fact: after realizing he was gay, he feared what would happen if he came out.

The 47-year-old, who now works in real estate in Miami, was glad to see baseball’s newest collective bargaining agreement address sexual orientation, but did not believe that wording alone would create the necessary changes.

The new CBA, released Tuesday, added the words “sexual orientation” to its section on discrimination. This development was first reported by the Daily News, and later confirmed by a news release, issued jointly by MLB and the Players’ Association, that read, “Non-discrimination based on sexual orientation were added to Article XV.

Article XV, Section A of MLB’s expiring Basic Agreement, in effect from 2006-2011, states: “The provisions of this Agreement shall be applied to all Players covered by this Agreement without regard to race, color, religion or national origin.”

In the new agreement, the words “sexual orientation” were added to Article XV. Michael Weiner, the union’s executive director, said that the decision was not motivated by requests from his membership, but by “the lawyers on both sides just recognizing that it should be there.”

Keep reading HERE.

Ugandan rugby player a refugee in Germany... learn why

From a delightful publication called Red Pepper. It's the newspaper of the year, so it must be good. Except it's from Uganda, so it must be bad. It's pretty bad.

Former She Cranes rugby player Lillian Ikulumet has been granted asylum in Germany claiming she had been raped, beaten and discriminated against for shafting fellow babes.

She was the captain of the all conquering Kyadondo Rugby Club based Thunderbirds women’s team. “Some guys broke into my house and started raping and beating me,” Lillian was quoted by DW news.

The rugger who carries a scar on the face with short, spiky dreadlocks explained that it was inevitable to quit Uganda. “The men told me: Until you stop being a lesbian, we will continue to do this to you.” The former Daily Monitor sports reporter frequented Europe at the height of her career until she stopped writing for unknown reasons.

She had a brief stint later with The Observer, keeping a very low profile with less visits at Kyadondo Rugby Club. Lillian only shares her secret with close friends in Germany.

At the end of the year she wants to leave the gay hostel where she is hiding and move into an apartment of her own. She said she wants to find a job and apply for a visa for her girlfriend, who she hopes to marry.

We encourage you to read the comments... enlightening and disturbing.

En français / Lancement du festival de films LGBT de Saint Etienne

Face à Face, un membre de la FSGL, membre de la FGG, lance aujourd'hui son festival de films. Après le "sport" l'an passé, le festival 2011 sera consacré au thème "Homos d’ici et d’ailleurs".

Interpellée par la situation des LGBT (Lesbienne, Gay, Bi et Transexuelles) à travers le monde et en particulier dans les pays qui ont vécu la révolution du printemps arabe, l’équipe de FACE à FACE a choisi d’intituler la 7e édition de son festival « Homos d’ici et d’ailleurs ». Cette thématique permettra de présenter au public de nombreux films inédits et de découvrir le travail engagé de réalisateurs qui sont les témoins de la condition homosexuelle en Egypte, en Tunisie ou encore à Cuba...

Toutes les infos ICI.


Festival FACE à FACE cinéma gay et lesbien de... par nicoetantoin

Happy (US) Thanksgiving!

As our friends in the USA celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend, we wish them all a safe and happy holiday.

We also give thanks to the bold men and women who founded the Gay Games nearly thirty years ago, and to the thousands of people who have taken the flame of the Gay Games since then. We are particularly thankful for our hosts and bidders, who have allowed for this magnificent dream to become a reality every four years.

And we are of course thankful for the dynamic team of Games Cologne, host of Gay Games VIII, which put on a fantastic event last year, and for our friends in northeast Ohio, who will welcome us in Cleveland+Akron for Gay Games 9 in 2014!

Video from Queen Urban Orchestra's latest concert

The Queer Urban Orchestra, a partner of FGG member LGBA, is a new LGBT symphonic group based in New York.

Find the program of their 12 November 2011 concert HERE.

"Oscar" gives Cleveland International Film Festival grant: LGBT filmmakers to be featured in 2014 in honor of Gay Games 9

A message from the Cleveland International Film Festival:


November 18th, 2011
Cleveland International Film Festival Receives Grant From The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ®

The Cleveland International Film Festival is thrilled to announce that it is the only 2011 recipient of a multiyear grant from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences® for its FOCUS ON FILMMAKERS program. The CIFF will receive a total of $150,000 over a three-year period.

The FOCUS ON FILMMAKERS program will allow the CIFF to emphasize African American filmmakers at the 36th CIFF in 2012, Latino filmmakers at the 37th CIFF in 2013, and LGBT filmmakers at the 38th CIFF in 2014 (the same year that the Gay Games are being held in Cleveland).

CIFF Executive Director Marcie Goodman stated, “The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ ® generous support of the CIFF is one of the greatest honors in the history of our organization. With the Academy’s® funding, FOCUS ON FILMMAKERS will enable us to provide increased screening access to minority and less visible filmmakers. It will also give us the opportunity to deepen our involvement with these artists’ communities, thereby bringing the public into contact with films and filmmakers for meaningful dialogue and interaction.”

The 36th Cleveland International Film Festival will be held March 22 – April 1, 2012 at Tower City Cinemas in Tower City Center. For details, visit www.clevelandfilm.org.

For more information on the Academy’s Festival Grant Program, visit http://www.oscars.org/education-outreach/grants/.

En français / Michelle Ferris, cycliste olympique et ambassadrice des Gay Games, évoque les conséquences de son coming out

Michelle Ferris at Gay Games VII in Cologne

Un très intéressant article de Têtu traite de Michelle Ferris, médaillée olympique en cyclisme, et excellente ambassadrice des Gay Games :

DANS LE VESTIAIRE DES FILLES. L'ancienne cycliste australienne ouvertement lesbienne Michelle Ferris, double médaillée d'argent olympique, s'interroge: était-ce parce qu'elle était homo, même non déclarée, ou pas assez jolie qu'elle a toujours eu du mal à attirer les sponsors?

Le poids commercial d'une sportive est-il soluble dans son homosexualité? Au début des années 1980, Martina Navratilova avait vu disparaître un certain nombre de contrats de sponsoring dans la foulée de son coming out. Plus de trente ans après, la situation devrait avoir bien changé. Et pourtant, les sportives de haut niveau out sont toujours denrée rare. Faut-il y voir là un lien de cause à effet? C'est en tout cas l'une des questions induites par le magazine australien DNA, qui consacre un long article à la question suivante: «Les sportifs homos reçoivent-ils les mêmes propositions de sponsors que leurs pairs hétéros?» Si le fil rouge légitime de ce dossier est le médaillé d'or olympique du plongeon à 10m Matthew Mitcham (lire notre article), l'ancienne cycliste Michelle Ferris (à gauche sur la photo) est, elle aussi, sollicitée.

Le coming out n'est jamais venu
La double médaillée d'argent sur piste à Atlanta et Sydney, retraitée depuis dix ans, explique ainsi qu'elle s'était tout au long de sa carrière préparée à faire son coming out, mais que celui-ci n'a jamais pu se produire. Simplement parce que la question ne lui a jamais été posée. «J'imagine que je n'ai pas accordé suffisamment d'attention au fait que j'étais homo, explique l'ancienne championne de 35 ans aujourd'hui ambassadrice des Gay Games. À l'époque, je n'ai pas dû juger important d'en faire toute une affaire, mais aujourd'hui, avec le recul, je me dis que j'aurais dû faire davantage autour de ça et focaliser moi-même un peu l'attention là-dessus».

Continuer à lire ICI.

En español / ADI continua su ampliación hacia el Sur

News from ADI:

El pasado mes de octubre el pleno de ADI ratificó por unanimidad la incorporación como miembro de la agrupación de la recién nacida Asociación Deportes LGTB del Sur. Dicha asociación, con una amplia proyección dentro del ámbito deportivo LGTB ha estrenado recientemente web y está iniciando con éxito sus primeros pasos. Tras conocer el proyecto que se estaba gestando en Andalucía, ADI estableció contacto con sus promotores, los cuales mostraron su disposición desde el principio a incorporarse a la agrupación, con la que hay una importante similitud de objetivos. En palabras de la propia asociación sevillana "si hay un ámbito de nuestra sociedad en el que la homofobia es claramente perceptible y en el que la visibilidad es una utopía que se antoja difícil de alcanzar, ese es el deporte". La adhesión de Deportes LGTB del Sur a ADI se materializó el pasado 22 de octubre por aprobación en sesión plenaria. El espaldarazo definitivo a esta nueva incorporación será la celebración del próximo pleno ADI en la ciudad de Sevilla.

ADI (Agrupación Deportiva Ibérica LGTB) fue fundada en 2009 por 7 asociaciones y clubes deportivos LGTB: Elaios de Zaragoza, Panteres Grogues de Barcelona, Hegoak de Bilbao, Samarucs de Valencia, y G-Madrid Sports, Halegatos y Madpoint de Madrid. La agrupación, que aspira a aglutinar y sumar los esfuerzos de todas las entidades que trabajan en el ámbito del deporte LGTB en la península ibérica, se amplió en la primavera de este año con la incorporación del grupo de senderistas LGTB de Mallorca Siurells. La reciente llegada de Deportes LGTB del Sur supone una nueva ampliación geográfica y estructural de ADI, que consolida su crecimiento desde su aparición y que espera nuevas incorporaciones en los próximos años.

Justin Camapign at launch of UK LGBT History Month

Justin Hall signs the UK Charter Against Homophobia in Sport on behalf of the Justin Campaign, at today's launch at the Oval in London of the UK LGBT History Month, which in 2012 will again focus on sport.

Send a message to world leaders to condemn proposed homophobic law in St Petersburg!

The Federation of Gay Games has previously partnered with AllOut.com to call for action by FIFA against the lesbophobic coach of the Nigerian national women's football team. We want our readers to be aware of this important appeal that will affect our LGBT friends in Russia:

Political leaders in St. Petersburg are about to vote on law that will make it illegal for any person to write a book, publish an article or speak in public about being gay, lesbian or transgender. The ruling party led by President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin could make millions of people invisible with the stroke of a pen.

Human rights defenders around the country are doing everything they can to stop it. They are risking their freedom to organize flashmobs and protests, but they are afraid that it won't be enough.

Right now, the world needs to speak up and tell Russian authorities to drop the bill. Join this call to leaders around the world to reach out to their counterparts in the Russian government - and ask them to reject this discriminatory and anti-democratic law.

Sign the appeal HERE.

"Gais Gay Games" DVD now available in general release

We're great fans here of Francoise Romand's charming documentary Gais Gay Games, filmed last summer during Gay Games VIII in Cologne.

Click HERE for an earlier post on this short film.

It is in French, English and German with German and English subtitles and is available via Amazon France:

Gay Games 9 host announces enlarged board of directors

A message from Cleveland Special Events Corporation, host of Gay Games 9 in 2014:

Meet our newly expanded GG9 board! These are the folks who are ready to make GG9 the best Games ever:

Sherry Bowman, Dirk Breiding, Dan Brennan, Joe Cimperman, Michelle DeLozier, Sue Doerfer, Jennifer Downey, Scott Finerman, David Gilbert, Hollie Ksiezyk, David Lieberth, Char Ligo, Valarie McCall, Christopher Panek, Stephen Sokany, Nathan Tolliver, Michelle Tomallo, Michael Varvaro, Ted Wammes and Keli Zehnder.

Auf Deutsch / Sie wollen eine Kindle eReader kaufen? Kaufen Sie hier!

IGLA annual championship poster series

View a panorama of IGLA annual championships, including next year's IGLA 2012 in Reykjavik and IGLA 2013, awarded to Seattle Orcas, HERE.

Sportsvibe interview of Ben Cohen

Sportsvibe caught up with old pal Ben Cohen to talk about tackling bullying and homophobia in sport.

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance

Find out about events in your area HERE.

Gay Games Ambassador Billy Bean says "It Gets Better"

Visit Choice Hotels music website HERE. Gay Games Ambassador Billy Bean has made a video for the "It Gets Better" project.

View it below, and visit our "It Gets Better" page HERE.

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"First WeTake Manhattan": Swedish documentary on Gay Games IV in 1994

The documentary is from Sweden, but most of it is in English. Some segments are for mature viewers.
Part 1/3:

Part 2/3:

Part 3/3:

Another Gay Games swimmer aiming for Olympic trials

In this report from Jeff Commings in Swimming World, we learn that another older Olympic candidate is also a Gay Games veteran:

PHOENIX, Arizona, November 14.

With less than four weeks until my taper meet – the short course meters Masters meet in Phoenix – I am starting to feel that twinge of excitement that comes with the impending arrival of the chance to swim fast.

This meet will be a great way to see how the additions to my training regimen have affected me in the past few months since qualifying for the Olympic Trials. When you are in your teens and 20s, changes to the way you train are usually easy to handle. But now that I am 37, I have been worried that the constant soreness is a sign that maybe I'm taking on more than I can handle.

My weekly session with JR Rosania have made me more aware of my strengths and weaknesses in the pool, but am I overloading my muscles? And how about those semi-regular workouts with Coley Stickels, the head coach of Phoenix Swim Club? My body hasn't endured this much breaststroke in a single workout since my days at the Olympic Training Center in the late 1990s.

It's only natural to have concerns about training progressions, especially on days when your coaches yells out times that you don't want to hear. Last week, I was the most sore I've been this season, but the times during sprint sets didn't reflect a body in turmoil. On Friday, I almost broke 27 seconds for a 50-yard breaststroke from a dive, something I have never done in Masters swimming. That was one of the highlights of the week.

Another highlight was watching the webcast of the Minnesota Grand Prix and seeing Brian Jacobson qualify for the Olympic Trials at the age of 37 in the 50 free. Yep, another 37-year-old has made the Olympic Trials. Brian is nine months older than me, so he now stands as the second-oldest male to qualify for Trials, and to be honest, I'm not upset that he's bumped me down to the third-oldest man in history to qualify. Steve West set the standard as the oldest qualifier when he made the 200 breast this summer at age 39.

Brian and I were on the national junior team in 1990 and 1991. Brian was a great swimmer then, and he's kept that going in Masters. In 2002, we raced together for the first time in 10 years at the Gay Games in Sydney, and I was amazed that he was still so fast. He broke the Masters world record in the 50 LCM breast in 2004, a record that I worked very hard to break two years later. Like me, Brian continues to get faster as he gets older. He was in the 50 free at the 2008 Trials, and wouldn't it be great to see him go under 23 seconds next year and beat all the teenagers in his heat?

Continue reading HERE.

John Amaechi on his unwitting role in the Penn State scandal

Giving a Kindle Fire? Get it here!

For Amazon.com:

London 2012 says "Be part of it!"

"Be part of it" is a message familiar to most of our readers, as it was the slogan of Gay Games VIII last year in Cologne.


It's being used by LOCOG in their recruitment drive, which seeks to be inclusive of all, and in particular LGBT people.


Find out more HERE.

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Working for London 2012 is your chance to share a moment of history – not just in the UK, but on a global stage.
The London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games are taking place in London and across the UK next summer, and we need talented and dedicated people to be a part of them.
We have approx 3000 job opportunities!
If you are passionate about London 2012 and would like to learn more about this or other opportunities, please visit our website HERE.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of the greatest show on earth!

En français / 2 December 2011 / Le colloque FSGL s'annonce !

Il est trop rare que la presse non-LGBt s'intéresse au sport LGBT. C'est pour cette raison que la FSGL a décidé de faire de la publicité de son colloque sur l'homophobie dans Métro, un quotidien gratuit, dans l'espoir d'intéresser des sportifs non-LGBT, des LGBT non-sportifs, tout le monde, au colloque qui se tiendra du 2 au 3 décembre à Paris sous le parrainage de la FGG.